From the Marlboro Man to the Music Man

For decades, the Republican ideal of the rugged individual was the Marlboro Man. Handsome and charismatic, this cowboy would never even dream of asking for government assistance for anything.

But recently, the GOP idea of a rugged individual has focused more on a different mythical guy–the Music Man. In the eternal battle between knaves and fools, the GOP has decided to come down on the side of the knaves; the fools have only themselves to blame, and have no right to rely on government help. Why else do Republicans make such a priority out of eviscerating the CPB and the IRS?

Don’t you wonder how this could have happened?